Expanding on comments made ahead of the unveiling of his team's 2014 contender, Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey is concerned that the new rules could prove dangerous.

Earlier, Newey, whilst explaining the new aerodynamic rules cast doubt on the safety of the new nose regulation. "We have a lowered nose which is supposedly on the grounds of safety, to reduce the chance of a car being launched if one car hits another in a manner similar to when Mark Webber went up the back of (Heikki) Kovalainen at Valencia a few years ago," he said. "Whether it really makes a difference or not is a moot point, but it's been deemed to be safer so that's what we've had to go for."

However, later when talking to reporters he suggested that rather than improving safety the new noses, already the subject of intense discussion because of the aesthetics, could in fact prove more dangerous.

"The regulation has been introduced following some research by the FIA that suggests the lower nose height reduces the chances of the car being launched. However, I must admit I am concerned the opposite may happen... that cars submarine effectively.

"If you hit the back of the car square on, then you go underneath it and you end up with the rear crash structure in your face which is a much worse scenario," he continued. "For me, it has introduced more dangers than it has cured."

The Englishman also cast doubt on the positioning of the batteries used for the Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) which are now placed beneath the fuel tank.

"It was done on safety grounds but I'm not quite sure why putting a battery under the fuel tank is safer than putting it behind the engine but that's where we are," he said. "These batteries can suffer thermal runaway through impacts, through causes which are difficult to predict. Once they go into such a big battery pack then it's very difficult to control that fire. Frankly, put it in the pitlane and watch it burn."

All of which beggars the question, why are these points being raised only as the cars take to the track for the first time?

Whilst we're all busy laughing at the phallic shapes on the front of the cars, and F1 makes into the headlines yet again, will we still be laughing should Newey be proved right?

Chris Balfe

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by GoodPublicity, 29/01/2014 14:14

"How stupid of the F1 Technical Commission to consider only one scenario for a racing impact. A random selection of F1 fans could do a better job.

Yes, why has Adrian only raised these concerns now? Surely he and his fellow designers spotted those blunders long ago."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Paul RB, 29/01/2014 10:47

"I think he has a point, especially the low nose profile having the potential to create a submarining effect with car "crashed into" being scooped up onto the nose and potentially into the driver of the car doing the "crashing". One presumes that this has been well thought through so maybe I'm missing the point but it's interesting to see that Adrian Newey has a the same consideration. The FIA does seem to have "form" in recent years in respect of dodgy decisions, although, to be fair, not generally regarding safety. Let's hope this isn't the case here. "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by White Lightning, 28/01/2014 14:51

"Well, Mr. Newey's answered my question from the RB10 unveiling article. The cars just look less safe to me."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Newey raises safety fears

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page